Wednesday, January 4, 2017

The Meadows Shore Series by Eva Charles - Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Eva Charles will be awarding a $75 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Fun Facts about Eva Charles and the Meadows Shore Series

While I was filling in for the medical interpreter at Cambridge City Hospital who was on vacation, unbeknownst to me, several male medical students had a bet going about which one could convince me to go out with him, first. Thirty years and two children later, the winner of that bet is still happy he won, and so am I.

We have two adorable dogs, Abby and Jax, who are a year apart in age. While growing up, my children begged us for a dog, but because both my husband and I have asthma, and are allergic to dogs, we never did. About four years ago, my youngest son became ill and had to take a semester off from college. He became depressed about his situation, and I was at wits end, when it hit me: “We’re getting a dog,” I announced one day. And we did, a hypoallergenic puppy. Suddenly, my son had a renewed purpose, and training Abby took him outside of his own head and gave him plenty to do every day. A year later, when my son was back at college, we brought home Jax, so Abby would have company. My husband and I are now those people, you know, the ones who act like their dogs are the center of the universe.

I love writing heroes, because I love boys. We raised two sons, and our house and life was always filled with boys. As a mom who’d always been a bit of a girl’s girl, I had a front row seat to how little, and big boys think. All the juicy tidbits I overheard, and that they shared with me while I ferried carloads to and from the movies, dances, and sporting events, whipped-up late night snacks, and served breakfast after sleepovers, gave me quite an education. It was also an incredible privilege.

The town of Fair Harbor is a fictional composite made-up of a few shore towns in Southeastern Massachusetts. I know that a handful of people are POSITIVE it is their town, but no, it really is a composite. However, Meadows Shore did once exist, called by a slightly different name. An extraordinarily wealthy man built two identical homes, summerhouses, on the property for his twin daughters more than a century ago. The homes were enormous, so large, that a few curious five year-olds once got lost inside while their mothers sipped wine on the patio that overlooked the ocean. Yes, I was one of those negligent moms, visiting a good friend who lived there at the time.

I wrote and self-published my first book last year at age 55. Even though I had once argued cases before ornery judges in federal court, I was terrified at the prospect of putting my work out there, and I kept it a secret from almost everyone. With time, and the kindness of others, I’ve gotten a little braver, but it’s still scary. Telling people that I write books, still feels absurd, like telling them I’m entering a bikini contest. And trust me, no one, I mean no one, wants to see me in a bikini!

Prepare to fall in love with the Claytons and Harringtons and their rich Portuguese heritage. A Wedding at Meadows Shore is the first book in the series. In it, you’ll meet the family and visit their beloved Meadows Shore nestled along the moody Atlantic in the charming seaside town of Fair Harbor.

It all begins with Sophie’s story, where she discards the past and learns to trust herself and others. The series follows the lives of her sisters and cousins while they, too, sort through their baggage and fall in love. Travel with them on their romantic journeys, stopping in rural Minnesota, New Orleans, and other enchanted places along the way.

They are wealthy and powerful, but suffer pain and loss much like the rest of us. Even great privilege can't shield them from those experiences. But despite their wealth and power, I think you'll find them approachable and down-to-earth—or as Cole Harrington would say: “We put our pants on one leg at a time, same as everybody else.”
There's an old Portuguese adage, "the rooster crows loudly, but it’s the hen who’s in charge.” And so it is with the Claytons and Harringtons: strong women, alpha males, and of course, Avó Angelina, the family matriarch who keeps them all on their best behavior.
Bem vindo à família, Welcome to the family!

Read an excerpt from My Sweetest Sasha:

Alexa rose from her chair and stood in front of Cole’s desk with her chin high and her spine straight. “I know your friend Clarisse is married to Dr. McKenna. I also know you’ve been sneaking around with her behind his back. You were alone in your office with her after hours, you planned dinner together at least once, and you have hushed phone conversations with her that end abruptly whenever anyone walks into the room. Even if, and it’s a big if, you haven’t been physically intimate with her, it’s not appropriate to involve yourself in their marriage in that way. He works for you.”

“You think that’s what’s happening? Christian’s all pissed off because I’m boinking his wife?” He shook his head. “This is Boston General Hospital, not ABC’s General Hospital. You need to stay the hell out of my business.”

“This isn’t just about you, or about the morality or lack of morality involved here, it’s about the hospital, too. You’re in an executive position. I work for Risk Management. This is a huge problem, with the potential to send ripples throughout the system, putting patients at risk. I have an obligation to report this.”

“Bullshit. You have no evidence I’ve done anything wrong. Just put it in your damn report. Go ahead. You’ll look like an idiot.”

“I can’t wait for the report to disclose this incident. Dr. McKenna left here livid. You took him off the schedule. His surgeries are either being performed by another doctor or they’ve been delayed. You’ve cut off his source of income, and interfered with his right to earn a living.”

Cole blanched.

“Tell me something that will allow me to keep this confidential, at least until the report is finalized. Offer some reasonable explanation—toss me a bone.” She was pleading with him now, but he said nothing.

She placed her fingers on his desk and leaned toward him, imploring him to look up at her. “If it’s not like it looks, then tell me what’s going on, Cole. Please give me something,” she begged.

He searched her face with stormy eyes, angry and conflicted. “I’m giving you nothing. Nothing,” he repeated.

“This is your choice. I wanted it to be different,” she whispered and left the room with slumped shoulders, shutting the door behind her.

Cole whipped his pen at the closed door, and when it didn’t make him feel any better, he hurled his keys, and then his water bottle. He wanted to tell her, he desperately needed her help with this, but he wouldn’t risk his friend’s reputation and career. Not even with her.

About the Author:

Eva Charles is the author of the multi-titled Meadows Shore Series chronicling the lives and loves of the Clayton-Harrington family. She invites you to visit their beloved Meadows Shore, nestled in the charming seaside town of Fair Harbor, where you’ll enjoy love, laughter, loyalty, and an abundance of mouth-watering food, Portuguese style.

After being a confirmed city-girl for more than thirty-five years, Eva moved to beautiful western Massachusetts in 2014. There, she found herself living in the woods with no job, no friends (unless you count the turkeys, deer, and coyotes roaming the backyard), and no children underfoot, wondering what on earth she’d been thinking. But as it turned out, it was the perfect setting to take all those yarns spinning in her head and weave them into a romantic tale.

When she’s not writing, trying to squeeze information out of her tight-lipped sons or playing with the two cutest dogs you’ve ever seen, Eva’s creating chapters in her own love story.

About / Contact

We are three generations of book lovers who read in many genres and want to share our love of the written word. If you're an author and would like an interview or to guest blog here, please email us: gfbooksmom AT gmail DOT com

We're sorry, but we're currently not accepting new review requests at this time, as we're already in danger from our nearly toppling TBR piles.